On Marco Island: Independent Reporting, Documenting Government Abuses, Exposing the Syndicate, Historical Records of Crimes Against the Environment

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Friday, August 29, 2008

Liberty Without Vigilance

As Europe started to slide down the precipice of carnage that became World War I, the Foreign Secretary for Great Britain Edward Grey declared in what has become one of the most prophetic metaphors of all time; “The lamps are going out all over Europe”. Just recently, the historian and syndicated author Mark Steyn starkly noted that “Today, the lights are going out on liberty all over the Western world.”

So why is it that post-20th century societies seemingly invite and appear ineffectual in preventing the elimination of their way of life?

The answer, the cause if you will, is traced to the individuals of those societies. As the noted Irish orator John Philpot Curran correctly pointed out, “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty”.

But although this truism is a rather popular quote, it is not an entirely accurate representation of what Curran really said. To wit:

It is the common fate of the indolent to see their rights become a prey to the active. The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance; which condition if he break, servitude is at once the consequence of his crime and the punishment of his guilt.

Hence, we find our answer in the spotlight on the individuals that make up the society.

We’ve experienced right here on Marco Island how not only the indolent but all of us have become prey to the active. The struggles of the recent past showed us that there were but perhaps a handful of people that did anything continually, eternally vigil if you will, a few others that at least wrote consistently hellfire emails to the then version of the syndicate in power, and the rest complained on the way to the buffet. And just in the last two weeks we saw hundreds of emails of how the “can’t we just get along, kumbaya” crowd was taken for a ride by the special interest elites via behind the scene control of their stooges in the present governance. These transgressions on our liberties simply happened because the power brokers were active as the citizenry afforded sparse attention.

Make no mistake about what is in store for us locally if the syndicate continues its bent on commercialization at the expense of the residents. And make no mistake about what is in store for the entire country if the socialist agendas make it to the White House.

At both levels, many complain, very few do anything of substance. The requirement of eternal vigilance applies to all of us, namely universal vigilance, for without widespread omnipresent vigilance, we are then subsumed into servitude to the prevailing evil as punishment for the guilt. Sadly for some of us that are in fact eternally in a state of vigilance, it is an ill deserved punishment, dealt to us from guilt by association.

Every day in every community in what’s left of Western democracies the majority is the indolent – a majority living in the last vestiges of liberty they themselves created for having broken the covenant with God. Too few of the vigilant remain to take on the fight continually, into perpetuity, sans help, bludgeoned by the corrupt, bankrupt by the viral spread of amerikapitalism, and drowned by the power of the entrenched iron triangle.

And as we found in the very recent history of other countries, giving up a utopia is not something that is hard to do – actually, it is incredibly easy; simply do little, do nothing.

Sadly, we don’t need to look to other countries for examples on how our liberties have been eroded – we can simply look at our own towns in this country. From massive local projects undertaken on lies and subterfuge, to the political correctness doctrine where our right to free speech is gagged by threats emanated from the sludge which is the legal system, to the loss of private property rights through the prostitution of the eminent domain clause of the constitution.

Without universal vigilance, get ready for universal health care. And in Marco Island, without vigilance scrutinizing every move of the special interest-directed governance bent on inane follies such as procuring their own electric utility, consider the words of Edward Grey as the lights here go out – literally.

3 Comments:

Dear Mario,

I always enjoy your blog commentaries which go far beyond in depth and background of the subject matter that we, the public, normally receive via our daily news reports. The historical perspective you provide adds substance to your arguments. Like you, I also am concerned about the “laid back” attitude of our citizens while the fox is raiding the henhouse. Perhaps when the cupboard is bare and there are no more chickens, they will pay attention---but by then it may be too late.

With that being said, I implore all Marco residents to take an interest in the issues facing the city, contact your elected representatives with your thoughts and concerns, and do your homework before deciding your position on the issues. Please do not just react to the emotions of others by parroting their thoughts until you think it through.

Dear Councilman Kiester, Does your advice to citizens to think things through before making their decisions also apply to council members? If so, what was your rationale for voting in favor of a storm sewer tax? Please explain.

My request for residents to think for themselves resulted from receiving over one thousand emails recently, all saying the same thing (word for word), i.e., they simply signed their names to an email which had been prepared by one of our more active residents with a very large mailing list. I have no problem with this resident’s providing this service (I have used his service myself to announce my open forums, a request to which he has always kindly provided without charge). But, for residents to simply parrot an email saying they are for or against this or that without stating any rationale to support their views does not help me do my job as a city councilor.

Needless to say, in answer to your first question which essentially says that this same principle should also apply to city councilors, of course my answer is “yes”, and I believe, for the most part, they do.

In response to your second question as to why I supported the establishment of a storm water enterprise fund, I offer the following.

1. Fairness. Basing “payment for services” on property values as opposed to their actual contribution of costs to run the system based on the amount of impermeable surface they create essentially results in a subsidy to those who contribute the most to the need for storm water services from those who create the least amount of runoff. This position is in line with my stand on the fire assessment, also mentioned as being a “no-no” in the form letter.

2. Should a storm water enterprise fund be created where the major contributors to the problem would be assessed accordingly may result in their switching over to the use of permeable surfaces for their large parking lots, etc. as opposed to simply using impermeable blacktop to provide the hard surface they need to conduct business. This would be a win-win for all of us.

3. Finally, my philosophy is that wherever it can be done fairly, the provision of and payment for municipal services should be handled no differently than any service provided by the private sector, e.g. trash collection (which, by the way, is an assessment based on your need for the service).

The fact that you even bothered to blog me your questions shows that you are a “thinking” person; you may disagree with me, but that does not necessarily mean that I have not thought it through as well. Again, thanks for your thoughts.

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Tuesday, August 26, 2008

And 2 Plus 2 = 4

So how exactly does one earn a "P.E." and a "DEE" (not to mention a 6-figure salary as Public Works Director) where you can't explain basic, grade-school level electricity off-the-cuff?

Now, of course, we presume that the request was for the difference (the measure of distinction) between single and 3-phase power, and not the deference (showing respect or regard) between single and 3-phase power. But with this bunch, you never know.

2 Comments:

thank you! and that's right - why not go right to the top! us on the side of truth, justice, integrity and non-syndicate can write to the top so we can be ignored immediately and directly, as opposed to writing to "staff" (should be "staff infection") and the councilpersons where we can be ignored after the staff/councilpersons are told to ignore us!

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Thursday, August 21, 2008

Yet Another Email Gem ...

So let's see if we get this one straight: whomever this arceri person is - who seems to be directing most (6) of the City councilors and all of the City staff - is suggesting that LCEC force Marco Island residents to pay a special assessment to offset the increase rates to non-Marco Island residents ("remaining LCEC customers") because of the City of Marco Island's purchase/obtaining their own utility from LCEC?

That is exactly what Marco Island residents need: another special assessment to pay for the folly of a few.

Oh, and for a good laugh read "... and they have to feel were [sic] serious". And who exactly is going to take this bunch serious?

My time to buy lunch when you are free. Let me know what fits. Just wanted to make a short comment about your comments quoted int he papers on the municipalization of the electric system. Although, I couldn't care less how this comes out, I do feel it important that the City be dilligent in getting the facts through a combined citizens committee/expert review. I was glad to see you feel the same way. I also wanted to explain a strategy that is possible and that was used with Florida Water Services in 1999 that could be utilized with LCEC. In 1998 the City considered taking over the water company by condemnation (FWS did not want to sell). The rationale was to gain control and keep water rates stable for a number of years. With Marco Island being FWS's largest, and most profitable, customer it became clear to us that it was possible that FWS could possibly provide all we were asking for as part of a special agreement without us having to go through the condemnati on route. Council formed a negotiating team which did develop such an agreement but FWS decided to sell their system before the agreement was signed. The same kind of strategy could be worked out if the committee/consultant study finds significant economic advantages to ownership by the City.

For example. let' say thet the City study finds that we could realize significant savings (ie. $8 million per year). It is pretty clear that the loss of Marco Island from the LCEC service territory would result in probable rate increases to the remaining LCEC customers. As such, would LCEC agree to a special arrangement with the City to provide some of these savings every year (ie. $5 million) if we don't proceed with takeover? After all, LCEC could explain to their other customers that such an arrangement with Marco is better for all. It is possible (although not probable) that LCEC would consider this alternative and we could gain most of the advantages of takeover without having to take over. Ted, although this possibility is listed in the Staff report, the key to the FWS negotiations was the continued pressure from the city that takeover would be a considered option. They had to feel that we we're serious in taking this action if the reviews found it worthwhile. Just some thoughts.

Thanks for the reply. My concern is that the budget crisis will never be over (especially with legislated tax cuts and a possibly new homestead ruling) and this franchise fund will now be the cash cow to balance deficits. You are correct about the street light funding. The payment for street light installations and for the operating costs of street lights (which was previously paid for from the regular operating budget) was added after the ordinance was passed and put a huge burden on the undergrounding program which resulted in a significant delay in the program from original plans.

I believe that it was a consensus of this Council at the budget workshop to continue the under-grounding of electrical lines after the budget crisis is over.The decision of Council was between cutting other capital projects and operating programs or continue placing streetlights on S. Collier, which apparently was not part of the original agreement.From comments I’ve received from some residents of S. Collier (south of Winterberry), they have no wish to replicate the excessive (their word) placement of streetlights to the north of them.

At any rate, I agree that the whole island should utilize underground electrical lines for all of the reasons you stated in your email.Thank you for your continued interest in island affairs.

0 Comments:

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Friday, August 15, 2008

City 2008 Emails To Date

Thanks to the efforts of a local patriot, the following links are to the emails produced by the City of Marco Island due to a Freedom of Information Act (Florida Statute 119) request.

The over-600 pages of emails are quite revealing and raise some questions. Here is an incomplete synopsis from a quick perusal:

There are many instances where city employees and councilpersons are being told what to do, what to say, and before they say anything, they run it by a one John Arceri as quoted "to make sure it looks good".

This same individual is requesting reviews/studies/visits from companies on behalf of the city. Where exactly did this authorization come from?

This individual is communicating on behalf of the city with vendors, contractors and other organizations as the intermediary between them and city employees and councilpersons. Where exactly did this authorization come from?

City employees and councilpersons are being bombarded by "information" by this individual.

This individual reviews and comments on public performances and public declarations by city employees.

Even the wives of the councilpersons are communicating with this individual on city issues.

There are some pictures/postcards of waterfalls.

There are quite a number of lunch meetings, and a plethora of requests for lunch meetings between city employees and this individual.

There are several long ago debunked FDEP environmental "studies".

The city penchant to owning its own utility and underground power lines is well underway - notice that the "citizens" advisory group meeting has yet to occur.

There is quite a lot of duplication in the emails. The order is random, as if intentionally shuffled by the city when producing the documents. The attachments to some emails were not provided - keeping up with past practices and in clear violation of Florida law.

The GOD BLESS AMERICA line in one email (the councilperson did not write it, just copied-pasted from somewhere else) is a refreshing read given that it is buried within so much evil ... except that the ACLU would have a field day with this one - you know, using public facilities (email) to even mention GOD.

The Highlight (so far):And the most sickeningly revealing email found to date: a person in a law firm that is tied with the governing elite from Marco to Crist writes an email to syndicate operatives, councilors, wives thereof and the other usual suspects quoting an article about the state of education in Florida andwrites: "I was not aware the education system in the state was so poor".

What???? Can anyone be that stupid? Where have they been? And these are the pols that run Marco. Forget GOD BLESS AMERICA - how about GOD HELP US.

Suggestion/Opinion:Since it is obvious from this produced batch of emails that one non-elected, non-city employee individual is directing efforts, here is an efficiency and money saving idea: fire every city employee and every councilperson (and their wives) and hire this individual. This way we cut out the puppetted middle persons and save a fortune.

Here are the links to the batched emails. Enjoy (if you can stomach them).

2 Comments:

It would be helpfull if there was an index showing how many emails there are from arceri, how many sent to various individuals, how many were to council, how many were to staff and vice-versa, the dates and subject matters to show the interaction behind the scenes to prove who is really running Marco Island. Arceri is the guy that went after Kiester for accidently wiping out a few emails.

i agree. the problem comes from the way the emails were delivered to me - in pdf form where the emails are images. so 1 pdf is one giant picture - a picture cant be searched for text.

i've suggested to the patriot that got the emails to request future emails in electronic text format - exactly as they are stored in the city's servers. this way they can be searched.

i suspect that since the emails were turned over on paper - shuffled by the way - the patriot had no choice but to scan them.

there is a solution. if someone (other than me) wants to scan each paper email in text format - i can show how - then i can populate them in the database for easy searching. i dont think i'll get any volunteers.

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Thursday, August 14, 2008

Send Message to Council...

from: www.eyeonmarco.comMARCOITES; Councilman Kiester's comments (as appearing in a local paper) are right on the money regarding the "State of the City"!

Several Councilmembers have indicated they have NOT received much feedback from the Community s-o-o-oo I encourage everyone to go to www.eyeonmarco.com and click on URGENT to send the below e-mail to ALL City Council Members. (I will also make a hard-copy of all e-mails sent and personally present them to the Council at the August 18,2008 meeting). Please have all members of your household have their voices heard and please forward this e-mail to all your friends, enemies, neighbors, etc. to do the same. Our pocketbook is at stake! Best to you and yours, take care, see you on the WEB!Bill McMullanVisit www.eyeonmarco.com or CLICK HERE to go right to the message:http://198.106.254.95/~eommarco/eyeonmarco.com/message-form2.html-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(send this message to the council via www.eyeonmarco.com on the link above):Message to Marco City Council:The Nation is experiencing difficult economic times; please do not increase the burden on Marco Citizens! Specifically:

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Monday, August 11, 2008

Bad Idea at a Bad Time

The apparent energy "crisis" has supplanted all other pressing national and local matters in a manner not seen since those insufferable gas lines of the 1970s. From concerned scientist, to engineers, to environmentalists, to the average consumer and finally to the clearly despotic federal government, all have joined a world-wide debate that is growing in complexity minute by minute.

Nuclear (takes too long to build and what to do with the spent fuel is being misrepresented – besides, what transportation vehicle is propelled by a nuclear reactor?);

Oil (we – as in America – are sitting on a vast store but with suffocated refining capacity, environmental Nazis controlling the majority in congress and no one in the White House, bringing these billions of barrels to market seems like a manned mission to Pluto);

Oil Shale (although already in limited use by the military, there are serious physics and engineering problems to be worked out);

Coal & Natural Gas (still waiting for that coal powered car, and despite decades of using natural gas in vehicles, not one automobile manufacturer produces a stock natural gas-propelled car);

Ethanol (the biggest farce perpetrated on the American people since the 19th century giveaways to the railroad barons);

Wind and Solar (not economically feasible, especially in Florida as per the latest Carnegie-Mellon study);

Hybrid (so, exactly how does a hybrid power plant work?);

Hydro and Thermal (you need a lot of water and thermal springs – geological features not readily available as demand needs in the locales needed);

Bio-mass/Bio-fuel (actually, quite realistic since the diesel engine was invented by running on peanut oil – but requiring an infrastructure overhaul);

Inflating Tires (as per your next president);

All of the above (Hint: when taking an exam on a complex subject matter, "All of the above" is hardly ever the right answer).

Weighing all of these options is further complicated by the unfortunate effect of three jokes being acted upon seriously by all governments: Kyoto Protocols, global warming, and carbon cap-and-trade mechanisms.

Then we come specifically to Florida. The governor has suggested that offshore drilling is now acceptable presumably not because he is being considered for VP (the match made in heaven: Obama-Crist), but because the Cubans (using Venezuelan/Chinese technology) have already drilled offshore – as in offshore to OUR shores. The governor has also mandated that by 2020, 20% of all energy generated in Florida must come from renewable or otherwise "clean" sources. Of interest to this arguably propagandist maneuver is that the "how" and the "how much" of implementing this directive is being left to "further studies". We do know who is going to pay for this reverie – the Florida tax payer. One gets this terrible sensation that we are all unwitting participants sitting around the bar in the The Iceman Cometh on this deal.

Hence, there are a plethora of complex options, not any one particularly viable, some mutually exclusive, a couple utterly inane. And with no definitive long-term solution having been analyzed and designed by anyone, those with no experience in this exceedingly complex world should not step into this mess at this or at any time in the foreseeable future.

Despite the undoubted turmoil, the perplexity, the uncertainty and the cost associated with the energy/power picture of this country, the City of Marco Island wants to get into the fray by owning their own utility. While the motivation is clear from the big egos furthering their big ideas to commercialize Marco Island, to even consider such a project when there is so much in flux and a preponderance of ambiguity, is utter banality. If the city blundered their way into a seemingly simple sewer system (at least that was how the peddlers of the scam spun it at the onset), then a city-owned power utility will prove to be catastrophic given that it is an exponentially more complex operation in an uncertain time for an industry clearly under the gun.

But yet there are those promulgating the mistaken belief that all things must be considered, that all options are "on the table" (hopefully not one in the morgue), and that we must contemplate every idea given the city's fiscal problems. Really? Putting aside for a moment who placed the city in the fiscal mess to begin with (read: the syndicate), such puerile group-think (read: no creativity) is akin to analysis paralysis. If everything must be considered, then why doesn't the city consider growing opium poppy on Track K (hugely profitable and there are U.S. government grants to farm this wonderful plant – just ask the now highly efficient Afghan farmers). Or why doesn't the city consider putting up a casino on the island's Calusa Indians' burial ground (the other Native tribes are getting rich with this scheme). Namely, it takes a bit of courage and common sense to distinguish between the probable and the feasible.

Now is not the time for the City to even consider getting into the energy business. The power and energy direction for the country and the world is completely up in the air. The presidential candidates – the ones that will have the most influence as to what will happen in the coming years – are proposing completely disparate if not incomprehensible plans.

There are more pressing and clearly definable issues the government of Marco Island (the one of the people, by the people, for the people) should be addressing. We face daunting local problems such as finding creative means by which residents can continue to afford to live here (presuming those running the joint still want regular residents to live here). Creative solutions are not those that involve creative ways to name a tax – any idiot can impose or raise taxes. With budget woes, declining property values, the ballooning cost of living, and a clear preference by the elitists towards commercialization at the expense of families and those on fixed incomes, there are many full time residents that are seriously hurting. The part-time residents are desirous in not being part timers any more. Families have left and will continue to do so. All of these factors perpetuate the erosion of the economic base and are the main causes that have and will continue to adversely affect the island's fiscal well being.

A stellar committee will convene shortly to discuss the city's utility aspirations – actually the aspirations of an elite few. This committee of must do the right thing and check their egos by emphatically recommending that the city not jump into the power/energy business. It's simply just a bad idea at a really bad time.

1 Comments:

Well stated Mario. The whole idea of the LCEC takeover has been pushed forward by Arceri who is trying to position himself for a plush job when his four years prohibition expires. The ad hoc study group is designed to give the impression that the citizens have seriously studied the matter and have recommended proceeding. This will give the city cover to avoid a referrendum because the citizens have spoken in the study group. The group does include impartial citizens but they are heavily outnumbered by the Beauforts and Isslers that will make sure the final report moves the project forward. The fix is in and the study group is just part of the process.

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Saturday, August 09, 2008

More Syndicate Good News

Continuing the stream of good news for the island syndicate, John Edwards is formally available for city attorney of Marco Island.

The ex-congressman has confirmed that he in fact did have an affair with a campaign bimbo though he has denied he is the father said bimbo's in vitro child. (Whether he is the father is inconsequential - recall that these "human beings" support infanticide).

As the two readers of this blog are aware, this blog first suggested the esteem ex-senator, ex-presidential candidate, ex-executive departmental head contender, ex-honest husband, ex-moral father figure as the ideal candidate for city attorney.

But as is customary when truth and/or satire brutally reveals the island's syndicate, there was an immediate response to the suggestion. First, a typical hate/slur posting, and then serial emails denigrating this author. All anonymous of course - which is a practice one finds counterintuitive since the syndicate, its minions, members, operatives, councilpersons and tentacles are above the law ... so why hide illegal and immoral activity via pseudo-anonymity?

Now with a confession to the mainstream media (unlike the paper that broke the story, the networks are honest, right?), the ex-person is no longer being considered for any Democrat-led white house and therefore is available “to server elsewhere”. With exceptionally appropriate intellectual, moral, and "professional" credentials, and with an eerily similar marital issue to that of an ex-city employee, it is once again urged that Senator Edwards be seriously considered by the kakistocracy in ex-paradise to head the rubber-stamping department.

1 Comments:

Dr. Mario, Re: John Edwards, it appears you were on target again, comments from the usual gaggle of anonymous sycophants notwitihstanding. In a similar vein it seems that the reason for one thousand foreclosures on this island of paradise has not gotten through to our kakistocrats yet. Oh well, I guess they will have to read it in the NY Times to believe it. H. Sarlo

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